Victor Wembanyama On The Pressure of Being Down 0-2 in The Finals: “This is everything I wished for”
Aura gamble
I respect it. Don’t change up because you’re down.
They go low, we get high.
I uded to say that to my mom before i would go shoot heroin
Typo or addiction, call it.
I’m a crackhead but I bought her diamonds, we love rocks
He’s also not saying directly he wished to be down 0-2 but rather broadly alluding to appreciating being on the biggest stage/high pressure moments he’s always dreamed of, but I’m sure this sub will listen to the full clip and not take the post title out of context.
Guarantee if Spurs go down 0-3 we’ll get a whole lot “hurr durr this is what you wished for Wemby” on here.
Sure, you’re right, but it’ll still be funny
Everybody acts tough when they’re down
Wait no
you jinxed it bro , I’m betting the house on spurs winning g3
It’s all about the opportunity to test your limits, especially for a player whose ceiling is “greatest ever to play the game.”
Wemby’s thinking: “Now the fun begins.”
Everybody acts tough when they’re up
So was the logo three, I have (probably irrational) faith Wemby is going to take this series to 7 win or lose
Yeah Wemby is next up in the (face of the league) category. I just have this feeling that this kid is about to have a masterclass performance at MSG. Like a 45⁄20 stat line tmw. Maybe it’s wishful thinking on my part but I genuinely think this kid has that “it” factor and it’s not far fetched for this to happen.
1000000% but reality still slaps you around sometimes, even when you’re the Chosen One
Look at MJ’s early playoff runs or LeBron getting swept by Timmy. Sometimes the greatest player in the world gets checked by this being a team sport.
It’s funny as hell though that all the analytics are currently showing that, while the Knicks starters may be awesome, it’s the bench that’s winning this series. Thibs would have me in therapy right now discussing why I started drinking after we lost 4-2 to the CJ McCollum Hawks
It’s almost like he has to lose badly to these Knicks to finish the story properly. This is only part 2 of the 3 part series. Im ok with being the catalyst to super wemby. As long as we get a trophy out of it, he can have the next five years.
tbh, this is probably still Part 1 lol
I say this with love because I’m a Spurs fan in the west but this team is still crazy unpolished by Finals standards. Dylan Harper is the exception, not the rule.
Not a single player who is destined to be a part of the Spurs core for the new dynasty is in their prime yet. Wemby is still incredibly inconsistent on offense and conditioning. Castle is, like, kinda dumb lol, and a bit of a hothead. Carter Bryant is going to go through the Spurs equivalent of Navy Seal Hell Week because you know Mitch isn’t gonna let this much potential stay a golden retriever. Harper will just continue being a god I guess, but with full buy-in and tons of minutes.
Throw Mitch in there as well, as a very inexperienced HC. He’ll get better with schemes and situational awareness as well.
But yes… 3 of the Spurs 4 best players are 22, 21, and 20. The end of Game 2 was youth/inexperience dominating in crunch time.
You’re absolutely right, crazy unpolished and lacking experience everywhere.
Individually:
-Fox been underperforming a lot
-Kornet has been great for most of the regular season but took a nose dive towards the end that kept going in the post season
-Keldon is unplayable after a 6MOY season, hate to see it but it happens.
-Castle is having a rather hard time under bright lights after breezing though the regular season with ease
-Vassell was injured a lot this year and didn’t perform well overall, but he has made a huge jump in the playoff
-Harper is just impressive, he was hitting a rookie wall a few months ago and not only did he climb it but got even better in the post season.
As for Wemby, he’s the only reason we are here. I’m pretty sure we don’t get higher than 4th spot in the conference (at best) without him and probably get ejected in one of the two first rounds after that.
Obviously he had some bad moments too, but this is expected he’s only had 2 and a half season of conditioning, recovered from DVT and a few injuries during the year too. I didn’t expect him to be physically ready.
With all that being said, this team can compete with anyone in a good night, they didn’t take out the champions because of a few injuries alone they have heart and the skills to back it up.
Yeah I remember people constantly clowning lebron that he kept choking in the playoffs and didn’t have what it takes to “finish the job”. It was especially bad when the heat lost to the mavericks. The slander was disgusting towards lebron and how he choked and would never have what it takes to win a championship. People just love to hate but that’s with comes with greatness.
That was supposed to be his game 2 with his press conference and PR media blitz we got the day before, look how that turned out.
I need a huge dunk while staring down Trump.
LaFayette hero moment is a bold move.
Dude, the guy was gifted a lot of position in the second half of yesterday but he was whole ass in the first half. It’s total wishful thinking unless he gets an absurd whistle tomorrow.
Analytically maybe but they are cooked
Good thing they still have at least 2 games to play to find out
How so? He’s not really saying he’s gonna win he’s just saying “I wanted to live moments like this”
Yeah literally every star athlete dreams of being down and making an insurmountable comeback, that’s like one of the most standard sports dreams
Down 3 runs. Bottom of the 4th quarter. 2 outs. Bases loaded. Ball at the 20 yard free throw line.
He’d still somehow score an Eagle
With 0.01 on the clock! Walk off
It’s what every sports movie shapes itself around - the underdog comeback.
I don’t even think down is what he’s saying. He’s not saying he dreamed of being up or down.
Just “i wanted to be a contending basketball player in the nba, I want to be a talent” I’m sure he would say this if they were sweeping or if they lost.
Failure is part of this sport every single night.
It’s a zero sum game.
Losing has to happen to someone. Even the greats.
Even regular people in the park think this up shooting around. Who hasn’t been like, if I miss this shot my friends going to die, then you miss and say no if I miss THIS shot… Or some ridiculous shit like that.
The script calls for Victor to score at least 35 at MSG but the Spurs still lose because the rest of the team thinks they’re Steph Curry
Wemby’s shooting more 3s than anyone on his team and hitting at 26%. His teammates aren’t the ones who think they’re Steph curry.
One of the best off seasons for quotes holy shit
This is the post season, not the off-season for the Spurs and Knicks
I love you yutes and ur slang
He better win this shit now
Last GOAT level player to love gambling was MJ. We ball.
Wemby hoping to go down 3-0 just to be the team that comes back
Going down 0-3 just to feel something.
“It’s all going according to plan.” He’ll be the first to come back from 4-0.
Didnt know Kenny Atkinson was subbing in as a coach for the Spurs
Atkinson gonnna be ESPN TV analyst for game 5.
Dude’s the Alex Honnold of NBA players
“People who don’t know anything about basketball are thinking that being down 0-3 is totally safe but people who know ball realize how dangerous being down 0-3 is”
Even the shaolin monks think Alex Honnold is a mental freak
ok but seriously, if they did that, it’d be one of the greatest finals runs ever, a basically rookie playoff team defeating the defending champs in 7, coming into the finals totally gassed, then coming back from down 0-3 and winning while being led by a 22 year old, that’d be legendary
And in basketball, the only one of the three “best of seven” sports where it has never been done.
when did it happen in other sports?
Red Sox did it against the Yankees in 04.
Yep, and it’s happened a few times in hockey, usually when a goalie just goes super-saiyan for a few days.
there was a whole Arthur episode about that. legendary
Fever Pitch taught me this. It’s good for the soul to invest in something you can’t control. To love in the best and worst conditions.
I want to see the first reverse sweep in the NBA in my lifetime tbh. But maybe not this Spurs team lmao, I want them to win Game 3 tomorrow.
that is what is going to happen
Me when we’re down 12-0 on the first half of a CS2 game and I’m bottom frag.
Bottom drag for wemby seems mismatched tho but I get what ur saying.
Imma just hope the knicks pull an NRG at the Major and lose 16 in a row.
“Guys if you think we are good, let’s prove it now! 0-2”-Wemby “Did we comeback?”-Castle “Of course not. 0-4”
Trumps in the building, guaranteed L for the home team
I’m sure trump is more of an icon for Texans than New Yorkers. Don’t try to give us bad juju, nice try
maybe they play better CT
too soon
“Perfect CT side! All we need is one round, we can do that… right??”
NRG fans in shambles (I’m an nrg fan)
I mean if big can pull off a 0-12 comeback in the CS major then wemby can in the NBA finals
He’s keeping the same energy he’s had all year, it’s just who he is. Anyone who’s hating on this kid for playing his heart out is weird
Who is hating on him for “playing his heart out”?
Some people have already started to call him corny and performative but I think it’s just haters
That’s not criticizing him for playing hard though, that’s an entirely different criticism
The discussion was about playing with heart out, his character.
Literally no one, but some people gotta defend their sports heroes when they say silly things
Literally how is that a silly thing to say? Every maniacal competitive athlete in any sport have that confidence believing they can do great things.
People that clowned on him for being emotional after winning the WCF
Unrelated but I will say I like how he sits there and thinks about questions before he answers them lol
Everybody’s reacting to this wrong though lol like c’mon guys he’s just saying he’s happy to be in this position (the finals, because it’s hard to do), enjoys the pressure of the moments, and is ready to play hard regardless of whether he wins or loses. Why is that so hard to grasp? 😂
Because most of the people on this sub suck lol
They really do. I question the age of the sub because there is limited emotional maturity and intelligence in here. I suspect age isn’t the problem.
Trust me bro it’s the same in the NFL sub too 😂😂
AFL(Australian football) is the same. Everything is so negative and dramatic dude. So it’s not just a US thing either.
It’s an internet thing. I’ve never heard takes like these in real life (unless it’s a drunk guy at a game or something which is fair because you’re just having fun at that point)
This sub was making fun of Shai for doing the same thing.
Fascinating isn’t it? They make their mind up and then view everything a player does through that light. Even if it’s the exact same thing like here, one gets praise and the other gets hate
Nah for real – it’s absolutely fascinating to see how folks here have diametrically contrasting reactions to the exact same behavior from a player they hate vs. one that they love. Right now Wemby is way more glazed, while SGA is way more hated… and you see that borne out in the wildly differing reactions to their behavior. Ofc this sub isn’t a monolith and you’ll see every opinion expressed – but it’s very clear which direction the hivemind is pointing.
Well I wasn’t one of those people bro! I would have commented the same thing about Shai that I just did about him
I remember someone saying here seemed low IQ for doing that.
Yeah he always takes a long pause before answering. Interesting to see
I imagine that while his English is still pretty fluent, he still thinks in French first when asked questions im English. Add in high stakes media stage, you double check how you’re saying things, just to be sure you don’t accidentally make a mistake.
If you watch him answer French questions in French it’s a bit of a different cadence.
It’s a breath of fresh air. We live in an age of instantaneous-ness, from social media to clicks to reactions. Taking a pause before saying something is quite refreshing to see.
This is the same sub that literally calls the mvp corny and performative for doing this before his answers by the way. Now it’s refreshing to see
Probably because he thinks in French and is double checking he’s saying what he wants to say correctly in English
People like picking words out of context to be outraged over. Most of them come from the same country that elected the Orange Man twice.
He’s just saying he’s glad to be in this position, he wanted to be in the NBA that came true. He wanted to be in the Finals, that also came true & that’s how he deals with the pressure.
Basically the whole “pressure is a privilege” type thing
This is right, OPs headline mischaracterizes what he actually said.
At least Wemby isn’t a front runner lol. Talking the same up or down in a series. He really believes this shit
Gotta respect that. Everybody wanna talk big when they’re up
Jordan swings baseball bat
Everybody tough when they up
Knicks, to their credit, are not showboating
Dude reached enlightenment
In 2 games he’s going to get even more time to chill with his monk boys.
Wished for losing to the Knicks is weird
That’s not what he said my god redditors are stupid
extremely successful out of context bait title by OP. Hundreds of comments in 20 minutes on a day with no games. well done u/MammothHistorian5652 lol
He’s not from here. And by “here”, I mean earth
listening comprehension is almost as difficult for you as watching an entire 30 second clip
There is no other way to respond or else it’ll be regret. Gotta act like they got a chance to have a chance. At least mentally.
Wemby coming out as a Knick fan is a crazy plot twist
Victor Wembenyama on losing the finals 4-0 “This is everything I wished for”
He purposely turned the ball over late in game 2 to put more pressure on himself 🐐
“It wouldn’t be fun if it was easy”
perfectly reasonable answer, both teams know it’s not going to be easy even with the series at 2-0
Series is by no means over
Absolutely not. Still 2 more games.
First to 4
Phoenix fans know
big difference between taking 2-0 lead at home, and losing 0-2 at home
Spurs are so talented I do expect them to get a game, realistically they’re not getting out of NY without being down at least 3-1.
I’m saying 85% chance right now the Knicks get the ring
Odds definitely favor the Knicks but first two games have been so close, wouldn’t be surprised by anything
Good guy Knicks granting him his wish.
In summary “We’ve grown, had ups and downs, we’re here and that’s all that matters so there isn’t room to be thinking about the future, just continue doing what we’ve done to get here”
I think he meant going to the finals guy not being down 0-2
just say wallahi bro
To be fair he’s in the finals and that’s everything any player would wish for…regardless of the circumstances or outcome. It’s a successful season.
Wemby asked the landlord to increase his rent so he could grind harder
They can’t make me hate this kid
We’re down 0-2 so I’m in no place to talk but there’s a high chance this dude goes nuclear in MSG.
He tends to play better on the road and feeds off crowds like that
High chance? or a chance? I would say there is an equal of even a better chance that he plays below his average. He got bailed out by officials in the second half.
He’s just trying to exude a zen like mentality on the situation. Nothing wrong with that or much of what he said except the last sentence when he says “this is what I’m built for“ - OK well, now you gotta actually deliver.
Josh Hart was much better at being reflective.
I get it but what we are watching is a 22 year old try to speak for a 1.5Bn dollar business. He isnt doing any better than a green analyst that finds themselves infront of the board. Only that the analyst has the skills to be there..
Wemby gaining 10 years experience is just one post season
Glad the Knicks could help with this dream.
Please keep helping
Oh he’s a sicko 😭
Y’all don’t love the game if you don’t love the way he’s approaching this, he’s got the right attitude
I get all the “this is just who he is, he’s happy to be in the moment with a lot of pressure to perform, yall are reading this wrong, etc.”
I get it.
But honestly? He comes off sounding like a cocky prick. I predict this dude will be pretty heavily disliked by majority of NBA fans in the next 2-3 years.
Not relevant, but dude looks like a model. Might be better looking than Kelly Oubre
Misleading headline as always.
If I were an owner, my team would be on media blackout - I’d eat whatever fines.
They need to focus on each game as a singularity - not have narratives and trivia thrown at them continuously.
The Spurs are talented enough to win this Game 3.
Then, when that happens, they’re good enough to win Game 4.
Each game, go in with the mindset of leaving 1-0. Get caught up in storylines, etc. and it’s already a wrap, likely.
Level headed Wemby. Good or bad. It’s exactly what he wanted.
I swear this guy seems to have had the perfect emotional upbringing lmao
Really misleading title lol. He is basically greatful to be there and the pressure that comes with it
Dude is translating in French in his head first, it’s fine answer… not a lot of great ways to answer that
Lol the title makes it sound badass but in reality it sounded like he’s already resigned himself to losing.
That’s not what it sounds like to me at all, sounds like the series isn’t over & he’s grateful to have the opportunity to play in the Finals.
That’s exactly what it is. He’s saying he’s grateful to be there and remembering that helps him alleviate the pressure
he’s very clearly saying that being in the Finals is everything he wished for, OP very successfully baited everyone with the title since this has 100 replies already
Yeah, some of the comments I feel don’t see it this way at all so maybe you’re right about the wording. Like let’s not forget he had a blood clot last year that shut down his season.
You’re dumb as hell if you think he’s given up or anyone on the team has given up
Spurs in 6
Spurs -2.5 ?????????
We haven’t seen Wemby get his shonen power up yet
Spurs in 7
Aiming for playoff spots at the start of the season then was able to go 0-2 in the Finals is not that bad. 😅
I LOVE IT, THIS MAN THRIVES UNDER PRESSURE. SPURS COMEBACK LOADING 🗣🙌🏼
This headline is so misleading that’s a not direct response to being down two…
Wemby is a refreshing presence on the mic. Win or lose, he’s gonna give you his true self
I would personally wish to be up 2-0 but you do you
I’m not a native English speaker but I understood what he meant. He basically wished to be in the NBA finals and pressure comes with it. It’s everything he wished for and he’s up for that challenge
some people just read the title and don’t watch the video
I genuinely pity anyone who has decided they cannot like this man
He’s so earnest it almost hurts
Where did you wish it? On a one-wish willow?
he understand it now
iirc the last team to come back from 0-2 in the finals was the 2016 Cavs against a 73-win Warriors squad. Wemby’s got the talent to make it interesting but the supporting cast has to step up — that Game 2 fourth quarter was brutal to watch as a neutral.
It was the Bucks in 2021 actually
I don’t believe you Wemby, yet, I kinda do believe you
It’s either going to age great or horribly. We’ll learn which way soon.
Only if you have the comprehension capabilities of an 8 year old
The thing is Brunson besides clutch 1⁄2 of a 4th quarter hasn’t played that well. Spurs have been playing bad. Wemby just needs to get off the perimeter and bang in the paint
oh good call — forgot about 06 Heat and 21 Bucks. Wade in 06 was something else. feels like wemby could add his name to that list if the role players hit their shots
Everything I wished for too 🥹
Guy watched a lot of anime lol. But hope Wemby stays healthy and can hit all the tropes he’s looking for
Wemby is gambling all of his stocks on the Donald Trump Curse ruining the Knicks
He needs to post up lower. They can’t stop him. I remember when I was a player coach and I had a 7 foot former college star as my Center . He wanted to dribble around outside and shoot three-pointers. Use your damn height to your advantage. I told the guy to stay on the box. Wemby is doing the same mistake.
His neck looks even longer than usual
If he wins the finals, this is a goated statement.
Alright he’s taking a gamble. We’ll see if it pays off.
What he really wishes for is that chat was only Knick’s now.
The way he’s the holding the mic is killing me
would the the funniest thing ever if they went down 3⁄0 and came back
Hell yeah.
I can hear the seething already from haters
Never let them see you sweat. Wouldn’t want his team to think any less then we have a chance to comeback
Alvarado sends his regards
He wished to choke in the first two games in crunch time?
“How to deal with it? I think the key is acceptance. A lot of times, and taking a step back, realizing the journey that’s behind us, and what’s ahead of us, and just being okay with who I am, where I am, what I’m doing. This is everything that I wish for so there’s no reason to really overthink it. I mean, This is what I’m built for.”
Thats the full quote and its about the pressure on him at 22 years old
Me too buddy. me too. I too dreamed of coming back from 3-0 down to win the world series by hitting a walk off HR with 2 outs.
How does this kid manage to be corny and cool at the same time
Dude is too dramatic. Just play ball bro, focus about winning.
There is no fantasy storyline here. Just put the ball through the hoop.
Wemby the anime protagonist
Did he wish for getting swept and totally exposed by KAT?
No its not little bro
Anyone else think he kinda sounds like Kylo Ren?
Kids a champion. Just a matter of time